2016–2017 Calendar & Handbook for Badger Families A Welcome from the Chancellor e’re happy to have you join the UW–Madison family! WLike many of you, I am the parent of a college student. We all want to do everything we can to help our young scholars succeed. Sometimes it’s a challenge to know how to do that. The Parent Program is your partner in this process. It provides resources, advice, and dialogue on the questions and concerns that are bound to arise during your student’s time on campus. Through special events, timely communications, online chats, and a dynamic website, the Parent Program will help you play a positive role in your student’s academic and personal success. This calendar provides useful information on when students will be focusing on exams, when they’ll be looking forward to the big game, and what’s happening at the university and around Madison the next time you visit them here. I hope it will allow you to feel connected — as a family — to this wonderful place and all it has to offer. On, Wisconsin! Chancellor Rebecca Blank WISCONSIN Welcome Dear Badger Families, Welcome to the University of Wisconsin–Madison community! Your students’ time here will be a journey filled with many new experiences, successes, and challenges. Your Our Goals for Parents & Families students will discover their place on campus, creating a Wisconsin Experience that will prepare them for the future. At UW–Madison, we recognize that parents and family members are valuable 1. To recognize your important role as mentors and partners. Research shows that family involvement is critical to the success of college coaches. You help your students progressively take on students. We encourage you to be coaches and mentors, while encouraging your more responsibility for their academics, out-of-classroom students to progressively take on more responsibility. experiences, and all other aspects of their lives. This Calendar & Handbook is our gift to you. We invite you to use this information 2. To have an open dialogue with your students about to help your students take advantage of all that UW–Madison has to offer. It includes ways to promote personal health and balance, important dates, resources, and contact information, as well as a section for parents including coping with stress, alcohol/drugs, nutrition, The Parent Program staff consists of Patti Lux-Weber (left), and families of first-year students that includes information about the transitions and sleep, exercise, and relationships. You empower your Monica Ruppert (right), and an experienced student intern team. milestones your students may experience. You can request a new calendar each year on students to identify problems, develop plans, and our website until your students graduate. work toward solutions independently. The Parent Program is committed to offering personalized service to help you and your students navigate our campus and community. In addition to this Calendar & 3. To understand that there are limitations regarding Handbook, we provide: access to specific student information as outlined in October 21–23, 2016 the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) • Phone (1-877-262-3977), email • A variety of visit opportunities, including and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Connect with campus. ([email protected]), and chat Family Weekend in October and Badger Act (HIPAA). Experience tradition. (parent.wisc.edu) services to help answer Family Spring Visit in April, showcasing Make memories. your questions and concerns our campus and offering events for the 4. To know about and take advantage of opportunities to entire family • A comprehensive and dynamic website engage with the campus and surrounding community. (parent.wisc.edu) • Multi-language services, including 5. To generate goodwill for the university by helping Spanish-language email and phone spread the word about the resources and discoveries • The Badger Parent e-newsletter, services, and a Chinese-language at UW–Madison, which impact both your students published five times per year, featuring web page parent.wisc.edu/family-weekend articles targeted to a student’s year and society at large. Parents and families advocate in school • A Facebook page and group, where for personal, state, and federal investments in parents can ask questions and share higher education. • A parent-notice system, used to deliver experiences with one another Connect with us critical information by email • Topic-based web chats, with answers from campus experts Search “UW–Madison Parent Program” On behalf of all of the Parent Program staff, we wish you and your students a successful Twitter year and look forward to connecting with you. Chat with the Parent Program staff Kind regards, Pinterest Patti Lux-Weber YouTube Assistant Director, Parent Relations and Special Events Campus and Visitor Relations With pen and paper in hand, students start off the new academic year in Agricultural Hall on the first day of class. August 2016 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 What’s Happening with Your Students Students are thinking about their new fall living arrangements. If your students are in shared living environ- Eight-week summer session ments, discuss how shared respon- ends sibilities (paying bills, cleaning, and other duties) will be worked out. How are new living arrangements going to 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 change budget needs? Many students living off campus will be moving around August 15. This is a hectic time, and students appreciate help with moving and storage. First-quarter Housing Most students are adjusting to life in payment due (Sept. 12 if a new living situation and, for some, paying with financial aid) in a new city or state. Returning students who were home for the summer may be relieved to resume their independent college lifestyle and 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 reconnect with friends, while others may soon miss home. Talk with your students about plans to stay in touch during the semester. If your students Fall-term eligibility begins for are living in University Housing, they University Health Services should complete a roommate agree- SHIP (Student Health ment form with their House Fellow. Insurance Plan) fall/annual coverage period begins Students are preparing for fall classes. They should log in to the MyUW Student Center to update their contact information, check residence 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 for tuition status, access their class schedule, and print a Pinpoint map of where their classes meet. They also begin purchasing textbooks and other course materials. Financial aid refunds begin next week; is your student International Student Services enrolled for eREFUND? Orientation (Aug. 26–Sept. 1) Financial aid begins 28 29 applying to student 30 Checks begin 31 Did You Know? July 2016 September 2016 Tuition Accounts processing weekly Located in the Lakeshore neighborhood, S M T W Th F S S M T W Th F S for Parent PLUS refunds 1 2 1 2 3 Open House is an inclusive gender-learning eREFUNDS begin processing and for students not 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 daily for students enrolled for eREFUND community committed to building ties among Move-in for University students of all genders, sexualities, and 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Housing student employees Move-in for all Summer health fee eligibility backgrounds. It offers a place for students to Deadline for first-year/ University Residence Halls ends at University Health 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 McBurney Disability transfer students to discover identity and acceptance. 24 (Aug. 30–Sept. 1, as assigned) Services 31 25 26 27 28 29 30 25 26 27 28 29 30 Resource Center student complete AlcoholEdu orientation (Aug. 28–29) before registration hold Wisconsin Welcome begins Transfer Involvement 101 parent.wisc.edu Badger fans cheer on the Wisconsin football team at Camp Randall Stadium. Storied game-day traditions include “Jump Around” between the third and fourth quarters, when the stands erupt with thousands of jumping fans. In 2012, it was voted the best college football tradition in a Sports Illustrated contest. September 2016 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Did You Know? 1 2 3 What’s Happening Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2016, the Morgridge Center for Public Service with Your Students helps students engage with the community Tuition eBills available for through service and learning. Students build students and Authorized Students are presented with hundreds Payers of ways to get involved, including mutually beneficial relationships through Sunburst Festival student organizations, fraternities volunteering experiences, service-learning (Union South) Chancellor’s Convocation courses, and personalized service projects. and sororities, intramural sports, jobs, Photo Shoot with Bucky Night at Overture Taste of Madison (Sept. 3–4) and volunteer opportunities. Involved students tend to do better academi- cally. Talk with your students about 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 how they are getting involved. Students focus on study skills and time management as they adapt to a new Late initial enrollment fee schedule and course requirements. applies after this date Encourage your students to use Eid al-Adha begins at campus resources and to get to know Labor Day (no classes) Instruction begins Multicultural Orientation and sundown* International Academic Reception (MCOR) teaching assistants and professors by Last day to cancel enrollment Multicultural Organization Programs (Study Abroad) Home Football taking advantage of office hours. without transcript record Festival First-Year Student Welcome Transfer Student Retreat UW vs. Akron Zips Alcohol use may increase at this time of year. As parents, you can influence your students’ choices. Have an honest Last day to drop 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 conversation about alcohol—encour- courses or withdraw age responsibility and moderation.